"The light that comes from wisdom never goes out"
United Kingdom Overseas Territories Minister Stephen Doughty visited the Virgin Islands this week to assess the recent Commission of Inquiry reforms and meet with leaders eager to convince him that …
Continue reading “OT minister visits, avoiding press and public meetings”
United Kingdom author and filmmaker David Olusoga will kick off the four-day BVI Literary Arts Festival at 4 p.m. today with a lecture exploring citizenship in the United Kingdom and …
David Lammy, who has family roots in Guyana, has become the most senior black person ever in a British Labour government after being appointed foreign, commonwealth and development secretary following …
Continue reading “New UK foreign secretary has roots in Caribbean”
A sexting scandal has upended the leadership of a British parliamentary committee probing the United Kingdom’s relationship with its overseas territories, but members told the Beacon they are nevertheless on …
Continue reading “UK’s overseas territory inquiry to get new leadership after sexting scandal”
Was the United Kingdom aware of allegations linking then-Premier Andrew Fahie to crimes before it launched the Commission of Inquiry? Did Governor John Rankin authorise the United States sting operation …
Continue reading “In exit interview, Rankin talks COI, Fahie arrest, Covid”
In line with discussions about the evolving relationship between the United Kingdom and its overseas territories in recent years, officials have put in writing their commitment to promoting a “modern, …
Continue reading “UK and Overseas Territories agree to up collaboration”
As part of efforts to strengthen the overseas territories’ voice in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, a UK parliamentary committee recently heard testimony from a university professor and the …
Continue reading “United Kingdom receives advice on territories, again”
The Virgin Islands helped secure support for 13 British, Dutch, French and United States territories in the Caribbean at the recent United Nations Caribbean Small Island Developing States Regional Preparatory …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands helps clinch support for overseas territories”
United Kingdom relations, beneficial ownership requirements, and cultural exchange were among the topics on the agenda when Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley met recently with heads of government from other …
Continue reading “Overseas territories leaders prep for London meetings”
The United Kingdom government is developing a new overseas territories strategy, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly told Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley and other OT leaders during the Joint Ministerial …
Continue reading “UK promises new overseas territory strategy”
At a time when the United Kingdom and her overseas territories are promising to recalibrate their relationship following this month’s Joint Ministerial Council meetings in London, we were glad to …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: Recent talks were a step toward needed UK-OT reset”
The European Union Court of Justice issued a ruling this week that could throw a wrench in the United Kingdom’s longstanding plan to force the Virgin Islands and other overseas …
The death of Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of an era. This month, the curtain dropped on a record 70-year reign that saw the Queen greet 15 British prime …
Continue reading “EDITORIAL: A healthy dialogue at the end of an era”
Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley recently thanked fellow leaders of British overseas territories for their support in the aftermath of the Commission of Inquiry report, and he offered to help …
Officials from the United Kingdom have said that the UK is procuring medical equipment and support for each of its overseas territories, including the Virgin Islands, during the coronavirus pandemic. …
Continue reading “UK promises medical support during pandemic”
British voters sent a strong message at the polls last Thursday in a historic election, giving the Conservative Party a green light to carry out its promise to “get Brexit …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands braces for Brexit after Tory sweep in UK”
About 4,000 miles away from the Virgin Islands, voters across the United Kingdom will head to the polls in two weeks and elect a new government to lead their country …
Continue reading “UK election could make waves in Virgin Islands, OTs”
The Virgin Islands and other British overseas territories learned recently that they will not be required to implement fully functioning public registers of beneficial ownership until 2023 — a reprieve …
Continue reading “Public registers requirement will wait until 2023”
Brexit was at the top of the agenda when Premier Dr. Orlando Smith and other overseas territory leaders met with United Kingdom officials during the 20th Joint Ministerial Council last …
Continue reading “Amid Brexit turmoil, UK reassures overseas territories”
Ben Merrick, director of the overseas territories in the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, visited the Virgin Islands last week. Over the course of three days, Mr. Merrick had …
Continue reading “UK’s OT director hopes for ‘rapid progress’ on recovery”
It is troubling that the United Kingdom Parliament’s inquiry into the UK’s relationship with the overseas territories was launched without a comprehensive effort to solicit input from OT citizens. The …
The first set of meetings intended to gather the public’s commentary about the relationship between the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom were held this week on Jost Van Dyke …
Lord Tariq Ahmad, the United Kingdom minister for the Commonwealth and United Nations, wrote to the “Decision March” organisers last week to express his sympathy for their concerns about public …
Continue reading “United Kingdom responds to Decision March petition”
In what could be a devastating blow to the Virgin Islands’ economy, the United Kingdom will force its 14 overseas territories to implement public registers detailing the ownership information of …
Continue reading “Virgin Islands reels after UK decides to force public registers on territories”
